Blog – Page 10 – Creative Nonfiction Collective

Announcing the judge for the 2016 carte blanche/CNFC contest

March 15, 2016

carte blanche and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society are pleased to announce the judge for our third annual creative nonfiction contest: Deni Ellis Béchard is a journalist, novelist, memoirist, photographer, and activist. He has published three books, the first of which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and was translated into French, Arabic, and Russian. Deni will also be delivering the keynote at this year’s CNFC conference in Banff, where he’ll address the importance of the narrative arts in a time of social…

Been a while since your last headshot?

March 8, 2016

Conferences, General News, Members

All-day professional photography booth at the 2016 CNFC conference in Banff, AB. Ready for your closeup? Now’s the time! Book a headshot session with our fabulous photographer, David Griffin Whyte.

Three Writers, Three Days: Breaking the Silence

February 24, 2016

Conferences, General News

CNFC recognizes three “Empty Chair” writers at 2016 conference Words have power. It’s an article of faith for writers—and a reason that repressive governments may try to silence us. Currently, more than 900 writers the world over are imprisoned or in danger for expressing their views. Another 200 are murdered every year. Each year, PEN International selects individual imprisoned writers whose cases are emblematic of the dangers faced by their colleagues around the world. These writers are represented at conferences,…

Uncovering life’s silences and hidden assumptions

February 18, 2016

Members Blog

CNFC member Sue Harper interviews Michael V. Smith – poet, novelist, writing prof, and recent author of his first memoir, My Body Is Yours: Books help us contain a kind of emotion that might be unpleasant, so we might get a better perspective on it and have a more sophisticated reaction to it in our own lives. Following two novels, Cumberland and Progress (Cormorant Books) and two books of poetry What You Can’t Have (Signature Editions) and Body of Text…

Storytelling Returns to the CNFC Conference

February 5, 2016

Conferences, General News

This Really Happened will be holding an open mic event as part of this year’s cabaret. Alongside the 2-minute readings, storytellers will have a chance to be randomly chosen to tell a 3-minute true story. All stories should be true and must be told without notes, but the subject is up to you! (Keep in mind it’s called This Really Happened because something should have happened.) We discourage people from writing out their stories word for word, but we do…

Conference registration deadline is April 4, 2016

February 1, 2016

Conferences, General News, Members

The Creative Nonfiction Collective member conference, Writing True 12: The Roots of Story, takes place from April 21 to 24 2016* at the Banff Centre in beautiful Banff, Alberta. This year’s conference features a keynote address by novelist, journalist, and photographer, Deni Béchard (open to the public for a $10 fee – tickets sold at the door), as well as the courageous Elly Danica, in conversation with Hal Wake, noted interviewer and the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Literary Festival. Registration…

Transform your Aeroplan points into the best CNFC conference yet!

January 23, 2016

Conferences, Members

The CNFC is a volunteer-run organization that depends on grants and donations to help create a top-quality conference for its members. Donations of your unused Aeroplan points can help us stretch our budget to bring in a wider range of excellent speakers to our events. To find out how you can offer this kind of support, click the button below. More information about this year’s conference is available here. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions!

How to build story and adventure with Instagram

December 18, 2015

General News, Members Blog

by Jennifer Kingsley, @meetthenorth Instagram is big, it’s growing, and it’s an opportunity for us nonfiction types. Yes, there’s a bad reality show component, but don’t be fooled. There is fine documentary there too, and we can be a part of it. Instagram made me nervous at first. I saw it, like other social media, as a proliferation of social obligations—without the benefit of leaving the house. A friend convinced me to give it a try; she said it would…

How to do a Banff Centre self-directed residency

December 9, 2015

Conferences, Resources

Planning on attending the 2016 CNFC Conference in Banff this April? Consider doing a self-directed writing residency while you’re there! Set in the heart of Banff National Park, The Banff Centre provides a perfect retreat setting for writers looking for focus and inspiration. This is the place you can come to be free from distraction and to focus deeply on a creative writing project. What to do Go to the Banff website and follow the outlined steps in this link.…

CNF Round-up #5

November 26, 2015

Contests, General News

Links to news, information, stories, and other things of interest to creative nonfiction writers Compiled by Maria Turner The deadline is coming soon! Submit now to our creative nonfiction competition for a chance to win $750 and be published in carte blanche. If you like competitive cooking shows, then this piece from Brevity is for you. Caitlin Horrocks illustrates how “cooking competitions offer a useful lens for looking at revision.”